Jockey Lester Piggott died Sunday morning at the age of 86. With 4,493 winners between 1948 and 1994, "The Long Fellow" was the third-winningest jockey in British racing history.

As reported by the Racing Post, Piggott died peacefully in Switzerland, where he had lived since 2012. Thoroughbred Racing Commentary had reported May 26 that he had been admitted to a hospital near his home in Switzerland for an undisclosed illness, and that his family was with him as he convalesced.

A subdued and sad mood this morning ?@EpsomRacecourse? as the great Lester Piggott looks out over the place he made his own. RIP Lester. pic.twitter.com/vA4vmWhWZc— Andrew Cooper (@ACooperClerk) May 29, 2022 Piggott was born November 5, 1935, and had horse racing on both sides of his family. His father Keith was a jockey, most prominently riding African Sister to victory in the 1939 Champion Hurdle, and went on to become a champion jumps trainer. His maternal grandfather Fred Rickaby Sr. was also a successful jockey, winning three fillies' classics in the 1890s as well as the 1901 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

A subdued and sad mood this morning ?@EpsomRacecourse? as the great Lester Piggott looks out over the place he made his own. RIP Lester. pic.twitter.com/vA4vmWhWZc

Adept with horse from a young age, Lester Piggott won his first race in 1948 at Haydock, aged just 12. Six years later he would win his first English Derby with Never Say Die. He went on to win the English Derby nine times, most recently in 1983 with Teenoso. That record of nine English Derby wins still stands. He also won a record 11 editions of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, most recently with Ardross in 1981 and 1982.

Everyone at Ascot is deeply saddened to hear of the death of the legendary Lester Piggott. Record 116 #RoyalAscot winners Record 7 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners Record 11 Gold Cup winners A truly remarkable jockey. pic.twitter.com/5NGcN7hM53— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) May 29, 2022 The most brilliant of Piggott's Derby winners was Nijinsky, winner of the English Triple Crown in 1970. Though 15 horses have swept the English 2,000 Guineas, English Derby, and English St. Leger, Nijinsky was the first to do in in 35 years, and no one has done it since.

Everyone at Ascot is deeply saddened to hear of the death of the legendary Lester Piggott.

Record 7 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners

A truly remarkable jockey. pic.twitter.com/5NGcN7hM53

Piggott's most iconic moment on American shores came with a son of Nijinsky: Royal Academy, who he rode to victory in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park. Near last early, Piggott steered Royal Academy down the center of the course for the stretch drive and his mount responded well. Piggott got Royal Academy up just in time to win by a neck.

Perhaps the most amazing part of Lester Piggott's Breeders' Cup Mile victory is that it came after he retired and then returned to the saddle. He had originally retired from riding in 1985 and begun to train. However, he was convicted of tax fraud in 1987. Sentenced to three years in prison, he was released after one year. He returned to the saddle in 1990, and rode until early 1995 before retiring again.

Since leaving the saddle, Piggott remained involved in horse racing. In partnership with Anthony Hirschfeld he bred Superstar Leo, named the English champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2000. He was also regarded as an elder statesman of horse racing in Great Britain, and is the namesake of the Lester Awards, which are awarded to top British jockeys each year.

The greatest of all time. My hero. Rest in peace my friend. pic.twitter.com/3N4YwrhZFr— Frankie Dettori (@FrankieDettori) May 29, 2022

The greatest of all time. My hero.

Rest in peace my friend. pic.twitter.com/3N4YwrhZFr